Carolina Beach – July 24, 2014
Bob Lypka, of Winston-Salem, NC, with a doubleheader of queen and gray triggerfish he hooked while fishing some bottom structure 60 miles off Carolina Beach Inlet with Lowell Mason on the “Sarah’s Worry Too.”
Westin, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that anglers are hooking big numbers of flounder in the Cape Fear River right now. All of the recent rain seems to have pushed the fish to the south in the river, and they’re feeding in deeper holes. Falling tides are producing the best bite, and anglers are hooking the fish on live finger mullet and menhaden.
Red drum are looking for meals in the creeks and bays off the lower river. They’re biting live baits, too, along with topwater plugs, spoons, soft plastics, and other artificials.
Speckled trout are feeding around grass islands, oysters, and heavy structure in the river. Like the flatfish, they’ve been biting best on the falling tides. Popping cork rigs are producing plenty of action with the specks at the top of the tides, and Gulps and other soft baits on jigheads are fooling them when the water’s lower.
Out in the ocean, there’s been decent king mackerel action in the 5-10 mile range, with some biting closer in the morning and evening hours. Anglers are hooking most of the kings on live baits like menhaden, but some are falling for Drone spoons as well.
Storm Cline, of TN, with a 29″ red drum he caught and released near Carolina Beach while fishing with Capt. Charlie Schoonmaker of Back Bay Fishing Charters.
Dolphin have pushed into the 20 mile areas, and anglers have had some good catches around the Schoolhouse and WR4 over the past week. Skirted ballyhoo are fooling most of the ‘phins.
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that there’s plenty of finger mullet and shrimp in the lower Cape Fear River right now, and the gamefish seem to be responding. Red drum are feeding in the creeks and bays off the lower river, and anglers are finding schools of reds working the flats on calm days. They’ve been biting topwater plugs well, but soft plastic baits and live shrimp and mullet are also producing.
Speckled trout are feeding in many of the same areas, particularly on high falling tides. They’ll take an interest in all the same baits as the reds when they’re in a feeding mood.
Flounder are also looking for meals in the same vicinity, and anglers have been hooking solid numbers of flounder (and some quality fish) while working soft baits for the reds and specks on most recent trips.
Big numbers of ladyfish are feeding in the lower river as well, and they’re biting just about anything they can fit in their mouths.
Robert, of Carolina Explorer Charters, reports that anglers are hooking some healthy flounder around nearshore structure off Carolina Beach. Live finger mullet are fooling most of the fish. Gray trout and some over-slot red drum are feeding around the same spots and also falling for finger mullet.
Anglers are hooking reds and flatfish in Carolina Beach Inlet, the ICW, and the Cape Fear River. Live mullet are producing all over the area, but anglers are also finding success with soft plastic baits and topwater plugs in the bays and shallows off the ICW and river.
Shannon Clark with a flounder that she hooked while jigging some nearshore structure off Carolina Beach with her husband, Capt. Rennie Clark of Tournament Trail Charters.
There’s been some decent speckled trout action around grass islands and oyster rocks in the Cape Fear River as well. Live baits and soft plastics are also attracting attention from the specks.
Brenda, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that live-baiters landed several king mackerel from the pier last week (the largest 21 lbs.).
Flounder are biting smaller live baits fished under the pier.
Bottom fishermen are hooking sea mullet and croaker on double-drop rigs baited with shrimp.
Alice, of Kure Pier, reports that anglers dangling barnacles and sand fleas next to the pier are hooking some sheepshead.
Live baits fished near the pilings are producing some flounder.
Croaker are biting shrimp on bottom rigs.
